Police shoot suspect in north St. Louis

St. Louis (KSDK) - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirms an officer shot a suspect Thursday evening in the 4500 block of Davison in the Walnut Park East neighborhood in north St. Louis.

This was the second officer-involved shooting of the week andthe eleventh such incidentfor the year, according toa St. Louis Police Captain Michael Sack. The department averages 13 officer-involved shootings per year.

A spokesperson for the police department says neighbors called police around 7 p.m. after observing several people in the neighborhood with handguns.

When officers arrived on the scene one male was seen running from the area. One police officer ran after the suspect, and one officer stayed with the police vehicle.

At some point the suspect ran toward the pursuing officer. When it was noticed the suspect had a gun in his hand, the officer yelled at the suspect to drop the weapon.

The suspect then raised the weapon at the officer, and one officer fired at the suspect, striking him in the upper torso area.

The officer who fired the shot is described as a 29-year-old male who has been on the force for six years. He's been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

The suspect, identified only as a 23-year-old man,was transported to an area hospital where he is listed in critical condition.